Interpolymer, elastic product thereof, and method of making same



Patented Mar. 2, 1954 N T FEE -C INTERPGLYMER,

THEREOF, AND -M LING SAME Harold PJBrown, Akron ELA'S TIC i PRODUCT ETHOD "OF MAK- TOliio, -assignor toj'lhe B. F. Goodrich Company, "New York, N. Y., "a

corporation of NewYork N 0 Drawing. 'f'ApplicatiomNovember 24;1950, wSerial No. 197,497

The. present invention relates. to the .pro'ducticn ref polymeric materials, particularly lto the ,production of rubbery high molecular weight. inter- ,-..polymers from monomeric mixtures containing atileasttwo essentialingredients, onea polymer- ,izablemonmsoolefin. such as isobutyleneand. the ..other.-an-.-alpha-beta unsaturated acid chloride such asiacrylylichlcride.and to thepro'duction of highly useful cured .or elasticized compositions therefrom.

Polymers of isoolefins. such asiisobutylene are :well nown-an'd .are possessediofcertainwoutstandin properties, for example, extremely slow permeability .to gases,- good low temperature flexibility, resistance to oxidation, and good electrical ..properties. Since .polyisobutylene and related materials arehighly saturated-it is 'dlffifilllt to :cure or .v-ulcanize-them. Thecop-olymers of iso- :louty-lene and isoprene, however, contain a small Tamount of unsaturation and-aretherefore, vulcan-izable'by theaction .ofsulfur. I The introduction of unsaturation, even a small amount,.makes -the .iscbutylene isoprenc copolymers and their sulfur vulcanizates susceptible tooxidation and anakes .thenrless flexible at low'teinperaturess,

Moreover, it is not i possible, v ordinarily, to produce: sulfur vulcanizates from known isobutylene isoprene. copolymers having desirably high ten- :silestrengthand modulus, especially inthe unreiinforcedcondition.

.I have discovered thatluseful and unique .poly

JIIEZS- are produced by the polymerization at low temperatures in the presence of-a-Friedel-Crafts active metal halide catalyst ofainonomericmix- .ture' containingat least two essential ingredients, one an aliphatic monoisoolefin-such as iso-butylene and the other an alpha-beta unsaturated acid chloride such as acrylyl chloride copolymerizable therewith in suc a medium. When the :aliphatic smonoisoolefin :such was :isobutylene is ;.presentv in: majorz proportion highly useful i inter- :polymers are obtained having the desirable rubrberyz'characteristics 'o'f'the butylisynth'eticfrub- 'beraithats is, remarkable inertness,.imp'ermeabilf ity to gases and the like, and in addition, havin'g the-remarkable ability when hydrolyzed, to he easily cured or elasticized bya condensation polymerization or saltformation' reaction (which "I hereinafter refer "to as an "'elasto=condensation) when mixed with a oxide and heated until an lasticpolymeric metailo-carboxylate is formed.

it.isgreatlypreferred to utilizeoasithe olefinic :monomer-cne ormore of the aliphatic 'isoo-lefins containingabutmne olefinic double .bondisuchas polyvalent metallic- 18 carbon. atoms. V v ducejgenerally higher molecular Weight and more Priedel-Crafts catalyst.

-monob'aasic .iacids such (Elf 260 8017 isobutylene, Z-methyl .butene-l, 3'-methyl butenel, andothersocontaining a totalof not more than .Compounds .of this classrprodesirable. polymers with I. the alpha-beta .iunsaturate'dacid chlorides'isobutylene' being the most .proficientlisoolefinin this respect.

.Anycar-boxylic acidchloride which is charac- .terized' by,-1 ossessing' one or. more acid chloride .g'rcups andlone or more olefinicicarbomto-carbon double bonds, at leaston'e of 'the latter :be-

ing in. the alpha beta, position withu'espect' to'an acid chloridegroun. is 'copolymerizab'le' with" the aliphatic rnonoisoolefins in the presence "of a Illustrative alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid chlorides of this'class include the-acid chloridesof monoolefinic'monobasic acids suchasacrylic aci'd (acrylyl chloride), beta-beta-dimethyl acrylic acid, 'methacrylic .acid, .alphaandbeta-'chloro .acry1ic acids, crotonic'acid, isocroto'nic acid, hydrosorbicacid, cinnamic acid, and others;"mcnoolefinic polybasic acids such "as m'ale'ic acid, vfumaric acid, betacarboxy acrylic acid, and others; 'polyolefi'nic as 'sorbic acid, alpha methyl 'sorbic acid, alpha-chlor'o sorbic acid, bta-acryloxy acrylic acid, "beta-vinyl acrylic diene-ioic l) ,"I2,4,"6-octatrienoic acid,alpha betaisopropylidene propionic acid having the strucca \CH3 alpha-vinyl cinnam-ic acid, alpha-isopropenyl furfural acetic .acid, alpha-isopropenyl cinname'nyl acrylic acid, and others; andpolyolefinic polybasic acids such as "3-.carboxy'pentacliene- (2,4)eoic-T1, muoonic acid, and others.

..It is-greatly. preferred to .utilize a carboxylic .aci'd chlorldeselectedifrom the class consisting of Ithe acid. chlorides of acrylicand alpha-substituted acrylic acids.

Compounds within thispreferred class areiacrylylchloride, the acidchloride of alpha-chloro acrylic acid, the-acid chloride of meshacrylic acid, ithe'acid chloride of the-eth- -acrylic acid, the acid chloride of alpha-vinyl acrylic acid and mothers. These acid chlorides polymerize.- most readily with f the isoolefins such asisobutylene rand -produce .polymers of greatest resinous interpoiymers are produced by the use of mixtures containing a major proportion of an acid chloride and a minor proportion of the monoisoolefin. It is preferred in the production of two-component polymers (or copolymers) to utilize monomeric mixtures containing from to 99% by weight of the monoisoolenn and from 1 to 30% by weight of the acid chloride.

The properties of the interpolymers of this invention may be varied somewhat by the use of one or more other olefinic monomers in addition to the two essential monomers. For example, the use of minor proportions of an open-chain, aliphatic conjugated diene such as butadiene-l,3, isoprene, 2-chloro butadiene-l,3 and the like as a replacement-impart for the isoolefin results in excellent rubbery interpolymers which are sulfur-vulcanizable. Similarly, minor proportions of other olefins such as styrene, acrylonitrile, vinylidene chloride and others may be utilized in the monomeric mixture. The proportions for the multi-component monomeric tures for the production of rubbery multi-component interpolymer range from 50 to 98% by weight of isoolefin, from 1 to 45% of an alphabeta unsaturated acid chloride, and from i to 35% of one or more than one additional monomeric materials.

The olefinically-unsaturated monomers which may be additionally utilized in the production of rubbery multi-component polymers include, in particular, the aliphatic, acrylic and alicyclic polyolefins. Acyclic (or aliphatic) conjugated diolefins such as butadiene-l,3, isoprene, 2,3-dimethyl butadiene, piperylene, hexadiene-2,4, and the like may be utilized as: may be alicyclic nonconjugated diolefins such as dimethallyl. In addition alicyclic diolefins both conjugated and non-conjugated are utilizable such as cyclopentadiene, dicyclopentadiene, l-vinyl cyclohexene- 3, l-vinyl cyclohexene-l, substituted fulvenes of the general structure.

(i. e. 25 C.) and ordinarily between -l0 C. and

temperature concentric pipes to the rapidly only a few minutes catalyst is -160 C. and more preferably between and 0., by any suitable means such as the addition of internal refrigerants such as solid carbon dioxide or by the addition of low-freezing inert diluents or solvents such as liquid methane, liquid ethane, liquid ethylene, liquid propane, liquid butane, liquid methyl or ethyl chlorides, methylene chloride, dichloro-difiuoromethane, or carbon disulfide or by addition of any mixture of such materials or by immersing the reaction ves sel in a bath of a suitable refrigerant such as liquid vinyl chloride, liquid ammonia, liquid methane, liquid ethane, liquid ethylene or the like.

After cooling to the desired reaction temperature the monomeric mixture is brought into contact with the Friedel-Cr-afts type of polymerization catalyst while maintaining the temperature within the desired range. The preferred catalyst consists of a Friedel-Crafts type active metal halide catalyst, particularly aluminum chloride, dissolved in an inert diluent which is liquid at reaction temperature. Boron trifluoride is another preferred catalyst which may be utilized in the form of vapors or in solution in appropriate solvent materials. Preferred solvents are methyl chloride, ethyl chloride, carbon disulfide and the like. Other Friedel-Crafts type catalysts, not necessarily in solution may also be used.

The catalyst is applied to the monomeric mixture in any desired manner, for example, by spraying a solution of the catalyst in the form of a fine mist onto the surface of the reaction mixture either continuously or in a single operation, and efficiently mixing the monomer and catalyst solutions. Still another technique of effecting intermingling of the monomer and catalyst solutions comprises conducting separate streams of monomer and catalyst solutions, by means of inlet of a centrifugal pump wherein quick and efficient intermingling of the solutions are efiected.

When the monomer and catalyst solutions are efficiently intermingled at reaction temperatures, the polymerization reaction takes place very and smoothly to produce in most cases a slurry of fine polymer crumbs suspended in the inert diluent. Generally the reaction requires time to reach completion and need not be terminated before completion. The crumb-like polymer may be treated subsequently in several different ways depending on the type of polymer desired.

When it is desired to obtain the polymer as a true addition-type polymer containing interpolymerized or combined acid chloride drous carbon tetrachloride, ethyl chloride, or

other solvent for the catalyst. Alternatively, and preferably, the coagulum is dissolved in a solvent therefor such as benzene, chloroform, isopropyl chloride and the like in which the aluminum catalyst is insoluble, the undissolved allowed to settle, the clear solution is decanted and the catalyst-free polymer is recovered by evaporation of the solvent. The polymer so-obtained is easily cured with polyvalent metal hydroxides to yield strong elastic polymeric materials, with polyethylene polyamines such as hexamethylene diamine, alkali-metal salts of dicarboxylic acids such as disodium oxadate: polyhyiiric: alcohols and-zcarboxylicuacids (through:.anhydride Fformation). The ecured zproducts cclosely resemble cure'd specimens of sthe tfbutyl' itype esynthetic rubbers in :ltheir resistance to the diifusion .of gases sand in aaddition ::are rsmuch stronger -:and -more'nubber-likein nature.

"Since i the iinterpolymers :zcontaining :ffreeszacid chloride groups are sensitive -to water and give dfii' hydrochloric :acidonstorage under aordinary conditions, it is 7 much :preferred "to :quench :the catalyst and carry out' the -polymer separation steps in such a manner that thezaeid chloride groupsof: the originalrpolymer will be converted by 'hydrolysisato "combined: tor polymer-mound) icarboxyl (-..COOH) :groups. "The latter result'us apreferab'lyaccomplished by 'the use-"of an aque- "ous quench-ing bath such as plaimwaternrbythe use of aqueous solutions 'o'f alcohol, ethylene glycol, :monoethyl ether, acetone, or :various other alcoholsuethers, esters, and ketones. If non=aqueous alcohols ::are utilized 1 under proper reonditions the acid chloridez'groups will beiesterifled with the production of olefin 'ester polymers,

such aas ethylene:glycol,

some .:of which *have very clesirable properties. l3

i'rhe "preferred. aqueous r quenching step is "followed, i if necessary, by heating andvworkinghthe avet polymer as in a steam-jacketed'internal mix- :'er:1n'ror der-' to insurecompletion' of the-hydrolysis reaction san'd ttocdryltherpolymer. lheproduct;

is a hydrolyzed polymer which, by reason of'its combined (or polymer. bound) carboxyl groups, is capable of undergoing an elasto-condensation *reactionwtitha polyvalent metal oxide and to be *thereby converted to an* elastic *carboxylate "having high strength in addition to many-'of'the desirableproperties of the conventional butylsynthetic rubbers.

*An alternative I procedure is -to first effect a physical -=separat-ion of the polymer from 'the "liquid components of'the'reaction" mixture and then to disperse the separated polymer in a large quantity of 'hydrolyzing agent. In batchwisereactions partial, ifnotcomplete,termination of reaction can be eiiected-.(-when the catalyst is.

being added gradually overaperiod of time) by cessationpof catalyst additionWhenLthe reaction -:has progressed to" the desiredpoint oriby raising the temperature, or by any .combinaticn'of the above-mentioned expedients 'followedprferably "byitreatmentiwith a catalyst quenching agent. "After the reaction has proceeded to the desired point;and 'the catalyst, hasjbeen .quenche'd, it.'is usually convenient to protect ;the -polymer .from oxidation or subsequent deterioration by adding an antioxidant thereto,a preferred procedure being to. add a solution or .dispersion of an antioxidant such as ,phenyl beta-naphthylamine or the like to the. quenching bath or to subsequent .poly-mer washing baths. The latter; precaution is ordinarily necessary only in the-production of polymers containing unsaturation since the co- .polymers .of isobutylene and :anacid chloride are saturated in nature and are not I susceptible to .oxidatien to the samedegree as are-the polymers containing diene type.unsaturation. The crumb- .like polymerrcoagulumneed only bescreen'ed subsequently :to effect separation :from :the :liquid icontentof the'quenching and/or washing steps. "The solid polymer? may then be dried in crumb .formsand thedried crumbs compacted into "a .zsheet "by passing them. through the -rollsrof a mi'll,

ior alternatively the wet :crurnbs r may be passed athroughv a corrugated mill roll ito :be compacted into a sheet and i the wetsheet then tlried. -,A

polymeric metallo- .zpreierre'd:prc'ncedure:is .to of "polymer .in :aa steam-jacketed .internalzmixer place the wet :crumbs vvherein :theyJmay .ibe; masticated and heated: to

.drive ofiithe. moisture: and insure theicompletion mbbera'm'dustry.

:Since :the zzinterpolymerization .;reaction :is aso L10 trapidiit'awillir be readily; appreciatedtthat'athesenvmaybe carried out in a it may be made continuous,- if desiredwithrecycling of recovered materials.

. chloride temperature the aluminum 'theethyl chloride. .The'catalyst"solutioitisthen "cooled to" about l'00' .mer. interpolymerization .of substantially. complete during. vguiredfor: catalyst addition forming .a solid rubtire process of polymerization, catalyst quenching,,;.polymer hydrolysis and polymer isolation batchwisemanner or Thefollowing specific. examples. illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention in considera-ble'dtail. They "illustrate the preparation or preferred interpo'lymers and demonstiate a few df theiradvantageousproperties. "The examples are not; however, to be-considered- 'as" limiting-the invention to the details 3 therein set forth -"si'nee numerous :variations andmodifications in proce- '"dure and-"materials, inaccordance'witb the -foregoing general disclosure, will he apparent to those skilled in the art.

Example 1 chloride is dissolved in ethyl chloridezanidtmixed with a catalyst solution comprisingaluminum dissolved in ethyl chloride. Tiler-nonomer solution is made by "first dissolving'the isoloutylene in ethyl chloridei'andtthencicoomg the resulting solution to about C. by the addition'of Dry Ice. 'ThGTCOIIGCt amount ofacr'ylyl chloride is then'added. The resultingzsolution should contain about three-xvolumes'ofethyl chloride to one volume "of monomers.

"A catalyst solution is'prepared byfirst mixing "250 gms. "of anhydrous ethyl .chloride and 1125 grainstof" anhydrous aluminum 'chlorideiat about "0 C.,a' temperatureat which aluminum" chloride is :only sparingly "soluble. The "niixture 'is then allowe'dto warm to'room -ten'rperature, atwhir'zh chloride dissolvesin C. without crystallization or separation of aluminum chloride.

The catalyst and monomer solutions. are .then mixed byiadding. asmall streamc'f catalyst solution below'the surface of'the monomer solution while vigorously agitating the reaction mixture to prevent the formation .of large clumps of polythe monomers .-is .he .IO-minutes rebery I interpolymer .in the .formof white, fluffy,

slightly sticky. mass. When all-the rcatalystesolution is added, the-agitationof .theacontentsof the reaction a vessel. iscontinued fora short time .toallowcompletion of the reaction. .The reaction is allowed to warm up. above 0;C.=beiore 50 rnl.-of water-areadded thereto'asacatalyst .quenchingagent. The resulting mi-xture is stirred .for-several minutes before it is 1 poured int-0 300 ml. of water containing 0.15am. ofiphenyl betanaphthylamine. Thecruznb-like polymer is then separated from the liquid phase by screening and the crumloelike coagulurn Washedwith cleesriwater until the wash Water is chloride free ('3 washes) The washedscoagulum. is then placed i in a Brabenderiinternal mixer andinasticate'd at1a3tem- 7 perature of 70 to 75 dry, slightly sticky mass is obtained. The prodnot is found to contain 4.8% acid (as acrylic acid) and is found to possess a molecular weight of 280,000. The mass is then transferred directly to a two roll rubber mill for incorporation of compounding materials.

The polymer obtained above is placed on a tworoll'rubber mill and compounding ingredients are incorporated according to the following recipe:

RECIPE A 7 Material: Parts/wt. Polymer 100 Zinc oxide Stearic acid 3 Easy processing channel black 50 The composition is press molded for 60 minutes at 325 F. to produce a strong elastic polymeric -metallo-carboxylate having a tensile strength of 1850 lbs/sq. in., an elongation of 595%, and a modulus at 300% elongation of 1,000 lbs/sq. in. By contrast, a conventional isobutylene isoprene copolymer known as GR-I, when compounded in the following recipe:

RECIPE 13 Material: Parts/wt. Polymer 100 Zinc oxide 5 Stearic acid 3 Easy processing channel black 50 Captax 1.0 Iuads 0.5 Sulfur 2.0

Example 2 The unhydrolyzed isobutylene acrylyl chloride copolymer of Example 1 (i. e. containing groups) is isolated as such by taking a portion of the original reaction mixture and separating the fiufiy crumb-like coagulum, dissolving it in anhydrous benzene, and then allowing the resulting solution to stand until the insoluble aluminum chloride catalyst separates out. The polymer is recovered by evaporation of the henzene. The resulting solid polymer is mixed with parts by weight of zinc hydroxide per hundred parts by weight of polymer (phr.) and heated for 20 minutes at 300 F. to obtain an elastic crosslinked or cured composition having the properties of a polymeric metallo-carboxylate.

Example 3 Multi-component interpolymers are made by a procedure similar to that of Example 1 from (1) a mixture of 95.2 parts by weight of isobutylene, 2.4 parts by weight of isoprene, 1.4 parts of 6,6-

C. under vacuum until a.

dimethyl fulvene, and 1.5 parts by weight of acrylyl chloride and (2) a mixture of 86 parts by weight of isobutylene, 10.3 parts of isoprene, and 3.? parts of acrylyl chloride. Th tetrapolymer obtained from mixture (1) contains 1.0% by weight of acid (as acrylic acid) or 0.014 equivalents by weight of carboxyl (-COOH) per hundred parts by weight of rubbery polymer (hereinafter abbreviated ephr.) and has a molecular weight of about 140,000. The tripolymer resulting from mixture (2) contains 0.06 ephr. of carboxy1 (-COOH) and has a molecular weight oi about 100,000.

When the tetrapolymer of this example is compounded in Recipe A of Example 1 and press molded for minutes at 325 F. a strong elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate is obtained having a tensile strength of 420 lbs/sq. in., an elongation of 580%, and a modulus at 300% elongation of 690 lbs/sq. in. In the sulfur-accelerator Recipe B of Example 1 the tetrapolymer produces a composition after 20 minutes cure at 325 F. having a tensile strength of 1710 lbs/sq. in., an elongation of 500% and a 300% modulus of 1020 lbs/sq. in. Thus the tetrapolymer is cured with equal facility with either a metallic oxide recipe or a sulfur-accelerator combination. The tripolymer of Example 3 is similarly cured with either zinc oxide or the sulfur-accelerator combination to produce a strongly elastic, polymeric metallocarboxylate.

Example 4 A mixture of 1.0 mole of isobutylene and 0.1 mole of the acid chloride of beta-beta-dimethyl acrylic acid (beta-beta-dimethyl acrylyl chloride) is dissolved in three volumes of ethyl chloride and polymerized according to the procedure of Example 1. The product is a copolymer containing 0.3% acid (as beta-beta-dimethyl acrylic acid) or 0.003 ephr. of carboxyl. When the polymer is admixed with 5 phr. of zinc oxide and heated 30 minutes at 300 F. an elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate is obtained.

Example 5 In a manner similar to that of Example 3 a mixture of 1.0 mole of isobutylene and 0.05 mole of the acid chloride of beta-vinyl acrylic acid (beta-vinyl acrylyl chloride) yields a polymer containing 1.5% by weight of vinyl acrylic acid and having a molecular weight of 730,000. When the polymer is admixed with 5 phr. of zinc oxide and heated for 30 minutes at 300 F. a strongly elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate is obtained.

Example 6 Mixtures containing from 50 to 98% styrene, from 5 to 40% of isobutylene, and from 2 to 50% acrylyl chloride polymerize according to the procedure of the foregoing examples to produce hard, resinous, thermoplastic polymers resembling polystyrene in clarity and strength. Addition of theoretical quantities of a metallic oxide such as zinc oxide and heating in a press mold greatly reduces the thermoplasticity and brittleness of the polymers without appreciably afiecting their clarity, transparency and color.

In a similar fashion, mixtures containing from 50 to 08% by weight of isobutylene, from 1.0 to by weight of an acid chloride and from 1 to 35% by weight of a monoolefin such as styrene, o-chlorostyrene, chloroethyl vinyl ether, and others produce rubbery interpolymers useful for many of the uses in which natural and synthetic rubbers are conventionally utilized. Their ability aria-non:

terpolymerscontainingfrom 0.001130 0.350 ephrz;

that is, chemical equivalents of carboxyl (COOH) 'per-IOO -parts ofinterpolymer (corresponding to 0.07 to 25.2%

metallor-carboxylates Which. are predominantly elasticin nature. Interpolymers containingfrom: .02 .to 0.20 chemical equivalents of carbonyl are preferred for the production of. polymeric metallo-carboxylates having-the best=balance of. tensile strength, elongation, and lowtemperature flexibility.

As. stated hereinbefore,. the proportionofv acid.

chloride utilized in forming the ,interpolymers of this-invention maybe. varied widely depending on the nature of polymer desired. and..2. described heroine-cove are directed. to the production of a high molecularweight solid rubbery interpolymer of .isobutyl-ne, which interpolymer. contains amajor proportion of combined ,isobutyl'ene and aminor chloride, and. is characterized by possessing a high molecular weight (generally above 100,000, preferably above 200,000 asv determined by the solution viscosity method-of Staudinger), by possessing very low unsaturation and by being capable of an elasto-condensation with. polyvalent metallic. oxide (i; e.. containing from 0.001 to 0.35 chemical equivalents. of' combined L-COOHlor (--Ol) groups per 100 parts. of'polymen-toa strong elasticcondition: Such interpolymers are use-- ful.;as. syntheticrubbers in the.- same manner-as. butyl rubber, innertubes... Example. 3 issdirectedtonthe pro-- ductionof high. molecular weight; multiecom-po; nent interpolymers from monomeric.smixtures; containing-in addition to the:twor-essentialzmom omers, one or morepclyolefinic monomers-such. as, isoprene:or- 6',6-dimethy1 fulvene. Examples; 4 :and :5 demonstrate the other than acrylyl chloride While Example;- 61" is 2' directed to the production of high; molecutar" weight resinous thermoplastic. interpolymersruse I ful in thesame manner. as otherthermoplastic: resins, from a major proportion otanotherrole fin; styrene, and minor proportions of each of: isobutylene. and an alpha-betaunsaturated-carboxylic acid chloride.-

The-foregoingexamples have disclosed the use of ethyl chloride as-a diluent for the monomer and as the solvent in the catalyst solution. The alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid chloride interpolymers of this invention may be. made, however, with variations in the diluent-used or" may be made-'Without diluent. Ethyl chloride; is thepreferred diluent becausewthe-resultant slurry otpolymer is more easily handled-rm the recovery operations and its .use. appearsstoiavor theformation of polymers .-having:.slightly higher molecular. weight; Methyl chloride; however; may. bersubstituted for ethyl chloride-without I a* by Weight .ofcombined acrylic acid) are predominantly plastic in nature and when elasto-condensed producei' Olyillerl'C Examples 1 proportion ofacid.

. being: of articular value: for:

utility of acid. chlorides I t-Lroxide- (S);

othersproduce superior results and are preane, liquid ethane, liquid propane,

'alyst. The amount of significant: difierence in the polymerization and it the preferredsolvent when operating at ,ex- 1 ofv to tremely low reaction temperatures C.- Other diluents such-as liquid methliquid ethylene, and others may be substituted interpolymersmay not be as easily separated from a predominantlyhydrocarbon reaction medium asfrom a reaction medium consisting of the-chloro-hydrocarbons.

Anhydrous aluminum chloride used in the examples above is the preferred Friedel-Crafts catthis material or other Friede-l-Craft's catalyst yield and molecular weight of the resultant polymer appears to be large independent of the amount and concentration of catalyst. The onlyreal limitation on the amount and concentration of catalystis a mechanical difficulty encounteredwhen using a concentrated catalyst solution whereby itis diiiicult to eficiently distrib-- ute such catalyst solution before rapid polymeri- 'zation occurs with the formation of unwieldy consequent localized 'overclumpsof polymer and heating; It has been found that 1 part by weight of aluminum chloride dissolved in sufiicient ethyl or methyl chloride to containing from 0.01 2% num chloride will efiect the polymerization of from 100 to 500 parts by weightof polymer withprovide a solution out anappreciable induction periodand with substantially complete conversion of the mono-- meric mixture to high molecular weight poly mer. When speciallypurified monomers are utilized in a glass lined reaction vessel, less catalyst in the form of more dilute solutions may be used. The useful catalystconcentration range is from 0.001. to 3% by based onthe weight of monomers in-suilicient ethyl ormethyl I chloride to yield solutions of about 0.01 to 10% by Weight.

Boron trifiuori'dein amounts 0.10 to 3.0% based onzthe monomers-in the form of solutions in ethyl or methyl chloride containing from 0.1 to 3.0% active catalyst will also successfully accomplish tanium,ialuminum, barium, strontium, copper (is); .co'caltfic), tin, iron, lead and others. Specifically, zinc oxide. calcium oxide, cadmium oxideliCdO'), magnesium oxide, clibutyl tin oxide (elrnonsn, lead oxide (PbO and Pbso z). barium" oxide (BaO), cobalt oxide (C0202), strontium oxide (510), and

for the ethyl chloride shown in the examples, either in whole? or in part with g-ooclresults though the rubbery is not critical and the by weight of 'alumi-- Weight of aluminum chloride ferred. In addition, various polyvalent metallic hydroxides, which in reality are hydrated metallic oxides and readily split off water upon being heated or upon reaction with polymeric carboxyl groups, such as calcium hydroxide, cadmium hydroxide [Cd(OI-I)2l, zinc hydroxide, barium hydroxide, and others produce excellent results and also are preferred.

The amount of polyvalent metallic oxide curing or elasto-condensing agent may be varied widely. However, for good results sufficient metallic oxide should be used as is required to react with at least /2 the carboxyl groups of the polymer. Better results are obtained when at least one equivalent weight of oxide is utilized. Since excess metallic oxide functions as a filler only, it is preferred to utilize twice or more the amount of polyvalent metallic oxide theoretically required to react with the carboxyl groups of the polymer.

The intermixing of the plastic, rubbery carboxyl-oontaining interpolymer with the poly valent metal oxide is performed in any conventional manner such as by mill-mixing, mixing in a Banbury mixer or other internal mixer, or by mixing an aqueous dispersion of the metal oxide with a latex or artificially-prepared aqueous dispersion of the carboxyl-containing polymer, in which case films and shaped articles can be prepared from the resulting mixed dispersion by the coagulant dip method or other latex casting methods. The mixing of the metal oxide with the solid carboxyl-containing polymer should be performed at moderate working temperatures, that is, below mill roll temperatures of about 275 F., more preferably below 200 F., in order to avoid scorching of the stock. The mastication of the mixture should be continued until the resulting mixture is homogeneous and the metal oxide is well dispersed in the rubber. Softeners, plasticizers, milling aids, age-resistors, carbon black, pigments and fillers, and other substances may be incorporated into the rubber, preferably before addition of the metal oxide. In any case the resulting mixture should be plastic, workable and homogeneous.

The conversion of the hydrolyzed solid polymore to an essentially elastic condition is brought about by heating the plastic, oxide-containing composition preferably in a press mold under pressure, at temperatures more preferably from 150 to 350 F. The heating step is usually required to shorten the ouring cycle, increase the mobility of the reacting ingredients and insure a sufficient degree of elasto-condensation. The time of heating will of from 125 to 400 F.,

vary somewhat, depending on the carboxyl content of the rubber and on of polyvalent metallic oxide employed. Generally, however, a heating or molding cycle of from five to ten minutes to as much as two hours will be found sufiicient.

Thus the interpolymerization of an olefin with an alpsa-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid chloride produces polymers, regardless of the proportions of acid chloride employed, which are themselves useful or which may be hydrolyzed, esterified or otherwise converted into other useful polymers. Consequently, this invention provides several new classes of polymeric materials and a method of producing them. While the invention has been described in considerable detail with respect to the manner of treatment of the kind and amount these various polymeric materials, it is to be un- I derstood that the invention is not limited solely thereto, and that various equivalent polymeric materials and other equivalent methods of treating them, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. The process which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material containing from 0.001 to 0.350 chemical equivalents by weight of combined -COOH per parts of rubbery material prepared by the polymerization at a temperature of from -l0 to 160" C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric mixture comprising from 50 to 99% by weight of an aliphatic monoisoolefin and 1 to 50% by weight of an alpha-beta unsaturated carboxylic acid chloride and then hydrolyzing the resultant interpolymer to convert the acid chloride groups therein to -COOH groups, and (2) an amount of a polyvalent metal oxide at least equivalent chemically to one-half said com bined --COOH of said rubbery material and forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of from to 400 F. to effect its conversion to an elastic polymeric metallocarboxylate.

2. The process which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material having a molecular weight above 100,000 and containing from 0.001 to 0.350 chemical equivalents by weight of combined -COOH per 100 parts of rubbery material prepared by the polymerization at a temperature of from '75 to 125 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric mixture comprising from 50 to 99% by weight of isobutylene and 1 to 50% by weight of a compound selected from the class consisting of the acid chlorides of acrylic acid and alphasubstituted acrylic acids and then hydrolyzing the resultant interpolymer to convert the acid chloride groups therein to -COOI-I groups, and (2) an amount of a polyvalent metal oxide at least equivalent chemically to one-half said combined COOH of said rubbery material and forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of from 125 to 400 F. to eifect its conversion to an elastic polymeric metallocarboxylate.

3. The process which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material containing from 0.001 to 0.350 chemical equivalents by weight of combined -COOH per 100 parts of rubbery material and having a molecular weight above 200,000 prepared by the polymerization at temperatures of -75 to 125 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric mixture comprising from by weight of isobutylene, from 1 to 45% by weight of acrylyl chloride and from 1 to 35% by weight of an open-chain, aliphatic conjugated diene and then hydrolyzing the resultant interpolymer to convert the acid chloride groups therein to -COOH groups, and (2) an amount of a polyvalent metal oxide at least equivalent chemically to twice said combined -COOH of said rubbery material and forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of from 125 to 400 F. to effect its conversion to an elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate.

4. The process which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material cone taming from 0.02 to 0.20 chemical equivalents by weight of combined -COOH per 100 parts of rubbery material and having a molecular weight above 200,000 prepared by the polymerization at a temperature of from -75 to l C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric mixture comprising from to 98% isobutylene, from 1 to 45% by weight of acrylyl chloride, and from 1 to 35% by weight of is0- prene and then treating the resulting interpolymer with water to convert the acid chloride groups therein to COOH groups, and (2) an amount of a polyvalent metal oxide at least equivalent chemically to twice said combined COOH of said rubbery material and forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of from 125 to 400 F. to eifect its conversion to an elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate.

5. The method which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material containing from 0.02 to 0.20 chemical equivalents by weight of combined COOH per 100 parts of rubbery material and having a molecular weight in excess of 200,000 prepared by the polymerization at a temperature of from -75 to 125 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric mixture consisting of from to 99% by weight of isobutylene and 1 to 30% by weight of acrylyl chloride and then treating the resulting interpolymer with water to convert the acid chloride groups to COOH groups, and (2) an amount of polyvalent metal oxide at least equivalent chemically to twice the combined forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of 125 to 400 F. to eiiect its con- COOH of said rubbery material and version to an elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate.

6. An elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate prepared by the method of claim 5.

7. The method which comprises preparing a mixture of (1) a plastic, rubbery material containing from 0.02 to 0.20 chemical equivalents by weight of combined COOH per 100 parts of rubbery material and having a molecular weight in excess of 200,000 prepared by the polymerization at a temperature of from to 125 C. in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst of a monomeric'mixture consisting of from 70 to by weight of isobutylene and 1 to 30% by weight of acrylyl chloride and then treating the resulting interpolymer with water to convert the acid chloride groups to COOH groups and (2) an amount of zinc oxide at least equivalent chemically to twice the combined COOH of said rubbery material and forming a homogeneous plastic mixture thereof, and finally heating the said plastic mixture at a temperature of to 400 F. to eifect its conversion to an elastic polymeric metallo-carboxylate.

8. An elastic polymeric zinc-carboxylate prepared by the method of claim 7.

HAROLD P. BROWN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. THE PROCESS WHICH COMPRISES PREPARING A MIXTURE OF (1) A PLASTIC, RUBBERY MATERIAL CONTAINING FROM 0.01 TO 0.350 CHEMICAL EQUIVALENTS BY WEIGHT OF COMBINED -COOH PER 100 PARTS OF RUBBERY MATERIAL PREPARED BY THE POLYMERIZATION AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM -10 TO -160* C. IN THE PRESENCE OF A FRIEDEL-CRAFTS CATALYST OF A MONOMERIC MIXTURE COMPRISING FROM 50 TO 99% BY WEIGHT OF AN ALIPHATIC MONOISOOLEFIN AND 1 TO 50% BY WEIGHT OF AN ALPHA-BETA UNSATURATED CARBOXYLIC ACID CHLORIDE AND THEN HYDROLYZING THE RESULTANT INTERPOLYMER TO CONVERT THE ACID CHLORIDE GROUPS THEREIN TO -COOH GROUPS, AND (2) AN AMOUNT OF A POLYVALENT METAL OXIDE AT LEAST EQUIVALENT CHEMICALLY TO ONE-HALF SAID COMBINED -COOH OF SAID RUBBERY MATERIAL AND FORMING A HOMOGENEOUS PLASTIC MIXTURE THEREOF, AND FINALLY HEATING THE SAID PLASTIC MIXTURE AT A TEMPERATURE OF FROM 125 TO 400* F. TO EFFECT ITS CONVERSION TO AN ELASTIC POLYMERIC METALLOCARBOXYLATE. 